Buyers' guide: Lexus IS200 (1999 to date)

Honest John helps you find your perfect used car

What's good: Toyota's distinctive answer to the BMW 3-series. Rear-wheel drive with smooth, 153bhp, 24-valve, 2·0-litre straight-six engine and slick, six-speed manual gearbox (four-speed auto optional). Much sharper steering than other Lexus models. Sport has traction control, which is a mixed blessing for keen drivers. Holds its value very well. Joined from 2001 by IS300 with 211bhp, 2,997cc six from the GS300, five-speed auto only, available as a four-door or SportCross semi-estate. Leather and six-CD autoplayer standard. Three-year/60,000-mile warranty, three-year paint and 12-year anti-perforation warranty. Third overall (and Lexus top brand) in 2003 What Car? JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. 99 per cent breakdown-free in 2003 Which? survey - also fewest breakdowns and faults, average for problems, making it a "Best Buy''.

What's bad: 2·0-litre needs to be revved to perform, auto gearbox can be sluggish. Complaints of alloy wheels suffering from pitting as a result of salt on UK roads — 800 wheels returned to Japan and replaced under warranty. Problems with radio reception on early cars, cured by signal booster. Some complaints of clutch judder on six-speed IS200s not cured by repeated replacement clutches. Can lead to gearbox problems. Average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability Index.

What to watch out for: Very few cars are as fault-free as this. Check gearbox and clutch action carefully before buying a manual version.